AITC'S IMPORTANT CANCER MESSAGES

Paul Hazelwood Davy Propper and Tomer Hemed show their support for the Speak Up campaign.

Alex Stedman

Albion in the Community is encouraging Brighton & Hove Albion fans to spend five minutes familiarising themselves with the signs and symptoms of a range of cancers.

AITC’s Speak Up Against Cancer campaign aims to address low early-detection rates in the local area, and its website (www.speakupagainstcancer.org) has information on a number of different cancers, including bowel, testicular, skin and cervical. Each page takes just a few minutes to read but contains potentially life-saving information.

Sue Brown, AITC’s cancer prevention co-ordinator, said, “Research shows that identifying a cancer early significantly improves the chances of treatment being successful, so it's important that people know what to look out for.

“Just taking a few minutes to visit our website to read about the signs and symptoms is certainly something I would recommend.

“If anyone is worried about anything, it's really important that they contact their GP. The chances are it won’t be cancer, but it's absolutely vital to get things checked out.”

The Speak Up Against Cancer campaign team regularly holds events across the city and will be at St Peter’s Medical Practice, just off London Road, for a cervical screening drop-in session on Saturday 17th February between 10am and 1pm, which is aimed at anyone who has missed their latest cervical screening test.

NHS nurses will be there alongside AITC’s team to dispel any myths about cervical screening in a relaxed and friendly environment. There will also be the opportunity for anyone whose screening is overdue to have it done.

Speak Up Against Cancer is part of AITC’s wider work focusing on cancer. The charity also runs Brighter Outlook, a free, personalised physical activity programme for people who have, or have just had, cancer.

And anyone interested in finding out more about Brighter Outlook can attend a free drop-in event tomorrow (Thursday) at the Macmillan Horizon Centre, Bristol Gate in Brighton – just opposite the Sussex Cancer Centre at the Royal Sussex Hospital site – between 9am and 1pm.

AITC’s cancer rehabilitation specialists will be available to talk through the support on offer, along with a number of people who have benefited from Brighter Outlook who are keen to share their experiences.

Research shows staying active during and after treatment has a range of benefits.

For more information on any of AITC’s cancer-related programmes, email: health@albioninthecommunity.org.